How far would you walk to see the most beautiful beach in the country? Well, after having done the hike to Sandwood Bay, I can say that I’d walk at least 4 miles to see the best beach in Britain. I heard about this beach two years ago in an article listing it as one of the top wild camping spots in Scotland. I became low-key obsessed with it, and when we decided to do the North Coast 500 in Scotland, I knew I had to make it a reality. Sandwood Bay isn’t the most accessible beach as you have to hike in—but it’s definitely one of the best beaches on the North Coast 500. Here’s everything you need to know about Sandwood Bay and how to get there!

EDIT: I took this trip in August-September 2020, and this post was written and ready to publish before my marriage ended. I have decided not to edit the original post.

Starting the Hike From Blairmore

The hike to Sandwood Bay starts from a large car park in Blairmore. This is a free car park and it allows overnight parking. There are toilets here, operated by the John Muir Trust. There is also a tap for drinking water, which I was thrilled to find! Besides that, there are no other facilities, no shops, just a few houses/farms nearby. The nearest shop I believe is the Spar in Kinlochbervie. Keep this in mind, and make sure you have everything you need before you arrive at the starting point!

As with all hikes, I recommend having a waterproof rain jacket and rain pants, sturdy hiking boots, and plenty of water and snacks. The path is easy to follow, however if you use OS maps you’ll need OS map OS Explorer 446: Durness & Cape Wrath for this hike. Check out all my recommendations in my outdoor gear guide! As there are no facilities whatsoever at Sandwood Bay, you’ll need to bring out everything you need (and of course bring it back with you). Make sure you bring an extra bag for garbage, as there are no garbage cans at the beach or anywhere on the hike. There are dumpsters at the toilets in Blairmore.

Hiking to Sandwood Bay

The hike starts across the road from the car park, and is signposted to Sandwood Bay (4 miles). Go through the gate and the gravel path leads you out past your first (of many) freshwater lochs along the walk. The path isn’t steep, but it is undulating—and there is a bit of an ascent as you near the end.

After the short ascent, you’ll see Sandwood Loch, a freshwater loch, to your right. There are also ruins of an old house here. To the left is Sandwood Bay, with a perfect white sand beach awaiting you. The hike is 4 miles to get to the beach and it took me 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Sandwood Bay: Heaven on Scotland’s North Coast

I can’t describe how picturesque and peaceful Sandwood Bay is. You can see Am Buachaille, a sea stack, at one end of the beach. The beach just seemed so perfect to me—it’s about 1 mile long in total, and the best in the country in my opinion.

You get great views out to Cape Wrath from Sandwood Bay. You can even see the lighthouse! If you’re up to it (or hiking the Cape Wrath trail), it’s another 11 miles hiking from Sandwood Bay to get to Cape Wrath. However, this is on mainly pathless terrain, so excellent navigation skills are essential. The area around Cape Wrath also passes through parts owned by the Ministry of Defense, so you’ll need to check in advance if there are any planned trainings/shootings that mean Cape Wrath is inaccessible. There was a sign noting the upcoming no-go days for Cape Wrath at the gate at the start of the hike to Sandwood Bay in Blairmore.

Wild Camping at Sandwood Bay

As Sandwood Bay has already been named one of the best wild camping spots in Scotland, I don’t feel guilty publicly recommending it. I wild camped here as part of my North Coast 500 trip, and it was an excellent place for it. Although it was fairly busy (as wild camping spots go, a bit surprising as it was a 4-mile hike from the nearest road), it didn’t feel crowded at all. There is plenty of space for all the campers and tents that were there around the beach and among the dunes. Don’t encroach on others’ space, and be respectful where you set up your tent.

The most important thing is to leave no trace. You’ll need to carry in everything you need to Sandwood Bay, like your tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. This also includes as much water as you’ll need overnight, food for dinner/breakfast/both, toilet paper/trowel, and a spare bag for trash to bring back with you. I didn’t see any garbage at all at Sandwood Bay—and the only way I could tell that there had been other campers around was bits of flattened grass. Keep it that way, and leave no trace.

Hiking Back Out From Sandwood Bay

We got up early in the morning, as we had a busy day of driving and exploring Assynt ahead of us. After a quick stroll along the beach in the morning, we packed up and headed out. The hike is an out-and-back, so we simply followed the same path back to where we parked. It took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes to hike from Sandwood Bay back to the car park in Blairmore. I was especially grateful to have toilets, and a clean water supply so I could fill up water bottles and quickly do some dishes.

From here, we drove back out to the A838 road. If you’re heading out this way in the morning, I definitely recommend stopping at the Old School for a full Scottish breakfast. They start serving breakfast from 10am and it was delicious!

Planning Your Trip

As Sandwood Bay is a 4-mile hike from the nearest road, there are no accommodation options available there or near the parking at Blairmore. The Old School has rooms (in addition to tasty breakfasts), so you could always stay there—I haven’t stayed there myself, just had breakfast, but they have good reviews. Otherwise, there are a few B&B options around Kinlochbervie and Rhiconich. You can search nearby options on Booking.com here.

There is no public transportation to Blairmore or Sandwood Bay, so you’ll need your own car. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Hiking out to see Sandwood Bay was definitely on my bucket list, and I’m so glad I made it happen on my North Coast 500 trip. Whether you’re interested in beautiful beaches, good walks, or both—Sandwood Bay won’t disappoint! I hope this post helps in planning a trip out to Sandwood Bay.

Have you been to Sandwood Bay before? Would you walk 4 miles to get to this beach?!

You might also like my posts:

What You Need To Know About The North Coast 500 In Scotland Before You Go

A 7-Day Itinerary For Scotland’s North Coast 500 Road Trip

What To Pack For The North Coast 500 In Scotland

How Much Does It Cost To Do The North Coast 500 In Scotland?

The Best Beaches On Scotland’s North Coast 500

Hiking Ben Hope: Scotland’s Most Northern Munro

My Outdoor Gear Guide For Hiking And Camping In The UK

All of my Scotland posts!

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